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BALAUSTION'S ADVENTURE.
43
Alkestis looked upon the action here,Self-immolation for Admetos' sake;Saw, with a new sense, all her death would do,And which of her survivors had the right,And which the less right, to survive thereby.For, you shall note, she uttered no one wordOf love more to her husband, though he weptPlenteously, waxed importunate in prayer—Folly's old fashion when its seed bears fruit.I think she judged that she had bought the wareO' the seller at its value,—nor praised him,Nor blamed herself, but, with indifferent eye,Saw him purse money up, prepare to leaveThe buyer with a solitary bale—True purple—but in place of all that coin,Had made a hundred others happy too,If so willed fate or fortune! What remainedTo give away, should rather go to these
